Local ‘Race for the Cure' is Saturday

Published: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 7:46 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 7:46 p.m.

Their stories are different, but their fight is the same.

Hundreds of breast cancer survivors will gather at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux Saturday for the Bayou Region Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, an event that aims to raise awareness about the disease and money for treatment and research to find a cure for breast cancer.

Registration for the race begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. A one-mile fun run/walk begins at 8:30 a.m., and the 5K run/walk begins at 9:30 a.m. Registration is $30.

Louisiana has the highest death rate in the nation for breast cancer, according to the state Department of Health and Hospitals.

About 115 of every 100,000 women and men in Louisiana will develop breast cancer in their lives. About 24 of every 100,000 white women and men will die of breast cancer. That number is significantly higher for black women and men, with 37 of every 100,000 dying of breast cancer.

But the stories of locals who have survived the disease is one of hope, and many have refocused themselves after their fight by aiding others now battling the disease.

Denise Washington, 55, of Thibodaux, began her battle with breast cancer three years ago.

She found a lump in her chest that she first thought was caused by an injury. But it didn't go away.

In September 2009, she underwent lumpectomy surgery to remove the cancer from her chest.

A “roller coaster” of treatments, including chemotherapy, followed.

“I was prayerful. But never fearful. It was almost too much to comprehend at one time,” Washington said.

She's now in remission. After the cancer, she said, her “priorities changed.”

“I enjoy things like the sun. The fresh air. My family,” she said.

After working for 30 years, Washington decided to take time off to volunteer to help other men and women facing cancer diagnoses. She chairs the American Cancer Society's Cancer Information Center at Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center, which aims to connect people recently diagnosed with cancer with the resources they need to understand and manage their illness.

Patients can receive cancer information specific to their diagnosis at the center. Wigs, hats, scarves and other treatment-related gift items are always available free of charge for those undergoing cancer treatments and facing partial or total loss of hair. More than 250 patients have used the center since it opened in 2011.

“This is where my heart is,” Washington said.

She also works with the American Cancer Society's Reach to Recovery program, along with local breast cancer survivors Ginger Hebert and LeeAnn LeRay. The program connects breast cancer survivors with women who have recently been diagnosed. It gives them someone to talk to who has shared the experience at a time when they may be feeling overwhelmed and alone, and faced with complicated medical decisions.

“They need someone to talk to that's been through what they've been through,” LeRay said. “I could talk to my husband until I was blue in the face. But though he understands as a spouse, you don't really know unless you go through it.”

LeRay was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2009 after her doctor found a lump in her breast at her annual exam. She was diagnosed with a serious invasive ductal carcinoma, the most common type of breast cancer, and underwent five months of chemotherapy to avoid having a mastectomy, a surgery that removes the cancerous breasts. She turned 44 around the time of her diagnosis, and doctors wanted to avoid the surgery because of her younger age.

In total, LeRay, a Houma resident, went through a year and a half of treatment including four surgeries and 33 radiation treatments.

“It was rough at times, but I said I would do what I had to survive,” LeRay said. “I wanted to see my son graduate from high school.”

He was just 11 years old when she was diagnosed, LeRay said.

LeRay said she dealt with her cancer treatment in an interesting way — by bringing a camera along to document each stage and treatment. She said doctors often recommend patients keep a journal to help themselves through treatment, but she was never a writer.

“They let me bring the camera into pre-op and the radiation room,” she said. “They said I was one of the most fun patients because I was always laughing and taking pictures. That's what helps you through. You have to keep a positive attitude.”

LeRay, a nurse, said having experience in health care helped her through the experience. But sometimes, because she knew all about the possible side effects and outcomes of her experience, it made it scarier too.

“You don't know enough, but you know too much,” she said.

Hebert, 56, stressed that breast cancer isn't always as obvious as a lump or something suspicious found in a mammogram. After being cleared by both her annual women's health exam and her annual mammogram, Hebert still felt like something wasn't right. Her mother urged her to get a second opinion. She visited a surgeon who performed a biopsy on her breast.

“He took 16 samples, and every one of them had cancer,” she said.

She had cancer in glands in the breast called lobules, which doesn't always present as a traditional lump. Only a breast MRI would have found the cancer, her doctor said.

“My cancer came like a thief in the night that steals your life,” she said.

Hebert underwent chemotherapy and immediate surgery to remove her right breast. She also endured 28 rounds of radiation treatment.

She also went through numerous surgeries to reconstruct her breast.

“I wanted to get back what cancer took from me,” she said.

In addition to the Reach to Recovery program, Hebert also volunteers with the American Cancer Society's Look Good, Feel Better program, which puts licensed cosmetologists together with cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to teach them beauty techniques and boost self-esteem.

The American Cancer Society also offers transportation assistance, lodging for those who have to travel far for treatment and assistance with making decisions about care, finances and insurance. There are also online support communities and classes.

You can learn about more resources or get cancer information by calling the American Cancer Society's help line at 1-800-227-2345.

Hebert, Washington and LeRay said the best thing to do when diagnosed with cancer is to make sure you have a good support system in place, stay positive and learn all that you can about your health.

“It's a battle, but we win,” Washington said. “We're conquerors.”

Nikki Buskey can be reached at 857-2205 or nicole.buskey@houmatoday.com.

<p>Their stories are different, but their fight is the same.</p><p>Hundreds of breast cancer survivors will gather at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux Saturday for the Bayou Region Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, an event that aims to raise awareness about the disease and money for treatment and research to find a cure for breast cancer.</p><p>Registration for the race begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. A one-mile fun run/walk begins at 8:30 a.m., and the 5K run/walk begins at 9:30 a.m. Registration is $30.</p><p>Louisiana has the highest death rate in the nation for breast cancer, according to the state Department of Health and Hospitals.</p><p>About 115 of every 100,000 women and men in Louisiana will develop breast cancer in their lives. About 24 of every 100,000 white women and men will die of breast cancer. That number is significantly higher for black women and men, with 37 of every 100,000 dying of breast cancer.</p><p>But the stories of locals who have survived the disease is one of hope, and many have refocused themselves after their fight by aiding others now battling the disease.</p><p>Denise Washington, 55, of Thibodaux, began her battle with breast cancer three years ago.</p><p>She found a lump in her chest that she first thought was caused by an injury. But it didn't go away.</p><p>In September 2009, she underwent lumpectomy surgery to remove the cancer from her chest.</p><p>A “roller coaster” of treatments, including chemotherapy, followed.</p><p>“I was prayerful. But never fearful. It was almost too much to comprehend at one time,” Washington said.</p><p>She's now in remission. After the cancer, she said, her “priorities changed.”</p><p>“I enjoy things like the sun. The fresh air. My family,” she said.</p><p>After working for 30 years, Washington decided to take time off to volunteer to help other men and women facing cancer diagnoses. She chairs the American Cancer Society's Cancer Information Center at Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center, which aims to connect people recently diagnosed with cancer with the resources they need to understand and manage their illness.</p><p>Patients can receive cancer information specific to their diagnosis at the center. Wigs, hats, scarves and other treatment-related gift items are always available free of charge for those undergoing cancer treatments and facing partial or total loss of hair. More than 250 patients have used the center since it opened in 2011.</p><p>“This is where my heart is,” Washington said.</p><p>She also works with the American Cancer Society's Reach to Recovery program, along with local breast cancer survivors Ginger Hebert and LeeAnn LeRay. The program connects breast cancer survivors with women who have recently been diagnosed. It gives them someone to talk to who has shared the experience at a time when they may be feeling overwhelmed and alone, and faced with complicated medical decisions.</p><p>“They need someone to talk to that's been through what they've been through,” LeRay said. “I could talk to my husband until I was blue in the face. But though he understands as a spouse, you don't really know unless you go through it.”</p><p>LeRay was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2009 after her doctor found a lump in her breast at her annual exam. She was diagnosed with a serious invasive ductal carcinoma, the most common type of breast cancer, and underwent five months of chemotherapy to avoid having a mastectomy, a surgery that removes the cancerous breasts. She turned 44 around the time of her diagnosis, and doctors wanted to avoid the surgery because of her younger age.</p><p>In total, LeRay, a Houma resident, went through a year and a half of treatment including four surgeries and 33 radiation treatments.</p><p>“It was rough at times, but I said I would do what I had to survive,” LeRay said. “I wanted to see my son graduate from high school.”</p><p>He was just 11 years old when she was diagnosed, LeRay said.</p><p>LeRay said she dealt with her cancer treatment in an interesting way — by bringing a camera along to document each stage and treatment. She said doctors often recommend patients keep a journal to help themselves through treatment, but she was never a writer.</p><p>“They let me bring the camera into pre-op and the radiation room,” she said. “They said I was one of the most fun patients because I was always laughing and taking pictures. That's what helps you through. You have to keep a positive attitude.”</p><p>LeRay, a nurse, said having experience in health care helped her through the experience. But sometimes, because she knew all about the possible side effects and outcomes of her experience, it made it scarier too.</p><p>“You don't know enough, but you know too much,” she said.</p><p>Hebert, 56, stressed that breast cancer isn't always as obvious as a lump or something suspicious found in a mammogram. After being cleared by both her annual women's health exam and her annual mammogram, Hebert still felt like something wasn't right. Her mother urged her to get a second opinion. She visited a surgeon who performed a biopsy on her breast.</p><p>“He took 16 samples, and every one of them had cancer,” she said.</p><p>She had cancer in glands in the breast called lobules, which doesn't always present as a traditional lump. Only a breast MRI would have found the cancer, her doctor said.</p><p>“My cancer came like a thief in the night that steals your life,” she said.</p><p>Hebert underwent chemotherapy and immediate surgery to remove her right breast. She also endured 28 rounds of radiation treatment.</p><p>She also went through numerous surgeries to reconstruct her breast.</p><p>“I wanted to get back what cancer took from me,” she said.</p><p>In addition to the Reach to Recovery program, Hebert also volunteers with the American Cancer Society's Look Good, Feel Better program, which puts licensed cosmetologists together with cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to teach them beauty techniques and boost self-esteem.</p><p>The American Cancer Society also offers transportation assistance, lodging for those who have to travel far for treatment and assistance with making decisions about care, finances and insurance. There are also online support communities and classes.</p><p>You can learn about more resources or get cancer information by calling the American Cancer Society's help line at 1-800-227-2345.</p><p>Hebert, Washington and LeRay said the best thing to do when diagnosed with cancer is to make sure you have a good support system in place, stay positive and learn all that you can about your health.</p><p>“It's a battle, but we win,” Washington said. “We're conquerors.”</p><p>Nikki Buskey can be reached at 857-2205 or nicole.buskey@houmatoday.com.</p>